Earth is a planet born of fire.
For billions of years, volcanoes have helped create the world we know. From the continents to the air we breathe and even life itself, all have their origins in fire. These processes have created extraordinary...

Grab your mask and snorkel and come on an unforgettable adventure! Great Barrier Reef captures the natural beauty of the world’s largest living wonder and introduces us to the visionaries and citizen scientists who are helping us better understand this...

Join an immersive IMAX adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world's most amazing dogs. No stranger to superheroes himself, Chris Evans narrates this inspiring true story about remarkable (or is that...

The Fleet's newest exhibition, Pause|Play, is an invitation for the young and the young-at-heart to leave the digital world behind, hit pause on their busy lives and recapture the nostalgia of play. Science has shown that play has a number of cognitive,...

As Tim Gunn is fond of saying, “Make. It. Work!” And that’s the idea behind our Make-It Workshop, a creative and interactive workshop for innovators and other curious minds. We invite you to stop by Studio X (formerly Tinkering Studio) on Saturdays to...

Stay and play—and save!—until 10 p.m. on Friday nights this summer!
Bring the entire family to experience the Fleet at night! Enjoy extended evening hours at the Fleet in celebration of The Art of Summer in Balboa Park. Peruse Pause|Play late into...

Grownups! You get the science center all to yourself (no kids allowed!) to explore exhibits at a savings, enjoy an adult beverage and rock out to music on Saturday nights this summer.
Adult Recess provides your chance to take over the Fleet's...

The first Monday of every month, seniors 65 and better can enjoy the Science Center exhibits, a show in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater and a lecture on the quietest day of the month for only $10! No coupons or additional discounts are accepted. The Fleet...

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Join us on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. for a tour of the solar system narrated by the Fleet’s astronomer. Journey through the cosmos with us as we explore a new topic each month.
For optimal viewing, each show is...

Join us on the second weekend of each month to investigate exciting science topics. Sessions will be filled with new challenges, hands-on activities and interaction with local scientists. Throughout the year, we will explore an array of fields including...

Current Year Calendar

2018–2019 Event Calendar for Current Members

Note that more detailed information will be shared with current members and their parents via email. If you are a current member or parent and not receiving BE WiSE updates, please contact communityalliances@rhfleet.org.

July 9, 2018: Energy Innovation in Action
Join the Strategic Energy Innovations team for this interactive tour of the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center. The center features the latest in energy and environmental technologies and is 1 of only 10 buildings in the world to achieve double LEED Platinum® certification. Platinum is the highest rating in the LEED® - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - certification system of the U.S. Green Building Council®. Learn about different green building technologies including energy efficiency, demand response, renewable energy, water efficiency and passive design. Hands-on activities are incorporated throughout the tour and include energy auditing using watt meters, optimizing solar energy efficiency using mini solar panels, creating mini generators, and acting as a LEED professional surveying the building.

July 14, 2018: Composting and Climate Change
Learn about the effects of trash on our environment and the relationship between composting and soil health in this interactive workshop at the El Corazon Composting Facility in Oceanside, California. In addition to learning about the science behind composting, participants will get a tour of the facility, make a home-sized compost bin and learn about being a female business owner. Lunch will be included.

July 21, 2018: Behavioral Neuroscientists in Academia
Get ready for a brainy day! Learn what a day in the life of a Behavioral Neuroscience professor is like and gain perspective on the value of teaching, research, and service to the community. Then put your own brains to the test with a variety of hands-on activities including: the Stroop Effect Test, exploring neuroanatomy with sheep brains, and a hands-on experiment recording living neurons on a SpikerBox (what is that? Join us to find out!). Come meet two first-generation, female, Latina behavioral neuroscientists who will share their pathways to the PhD and will take you on a tour of their respective laboratories at California State University San Marcos. This will be a workshop to remember!

July 24, 2018: The Road to Drug Discovery
Join the scientists at Pfizer La Jolla to learn about process taking an idea from research to marketing a life-saving/changing drug. Participants in this workshop will tour of the structural biology labs at Pfizer where they study the structure and function of various proteins which are the key drivers of many of the tumors and are the primary targets of directed cancer therapies. At the lab, you’ll get to try and harvest a protein crystal under a microscope and learn about what happens when compounds react with water and air. Participants will meet women role models and learn about their trajectories in becoming scientists.

August 11, 2018: BE WiSE does SpaceX
Meet the scientists at one of the most exciting and innovative space exploration company in operation today. SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. Learn about how company was founded to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Participants in this workshop will tour the SpaceX headquarters and meet and engage with women scientists who work there. This workshop will be out of this world!

August 25, 2018: The Heart of the Matter
BE WiSE participants in this workshop will use microscopes to visualize primary cardiomyocytes (heart cells) and have hands on learning to isolate protein from the heart cells and calculate protein concentration. They will learn about an important technique (Western blotting) in cell and molecular biology to identify specific proteins within the cell. Participants will also meet and get to interact with women biomedical researchers and get to see their lab.

September 8, 2018: Mouse Dissection & Histology
Mice are one of the most common research subjects, but why? Join researchers from UCSD for this BE WiSE workshop that explores the ethics of animal use in research. Participants in this workshop will experience mouse anatomy by dissecting a real mouse. Learn more about how and why researchers dissect brain and nerve tissue, skin samples, and many other large organs from mice. Participants will also learn about different fixation techniques and the rational for their uses.

September 22, 2018: The Physics of the Heart
What makes the heart beat? How does it beat and pumps blood through your body? Participants in this workshop will get to tour the UCSD Bioengineering Daniela Valdez Jasso Laboratory to learn about the physics of the heart, how we quantify the changes in health and disease, and how physics and mathematics are used in the cardiovascular mechanics world. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet Latina scientists and learn about their unique paths in becoming scientists.

October 06, 2018: Totally Turbines
Join Solar Turbines for a hands-on activity and tour of production areas including: package assembly, turbine assembly, test, and controls. The activity and tour will be followed by lunch and a question and answer panel. Participants will also get to meet female engineers and learn more about their paths in science.

October 20, 2018: San Diego Who Con 2018
Represent the Fleet Science Center and BE WiSE at the Doctor Who convention! At this booth you will be joined with other BE WiSE Who Fans and will be interacting with convention goers doing a fun science demo. Now that the new Doctor will be a woman, you are encouraged you to chat with booth visitors about the importance of women in science careers and let girls know about the BE WiSE program.

October 20, 2018: Extreme Sailing Series
Join us for this family-friendly event and witness, for the second time in San Diego, the Extreme Sailing Series! Whether you’re a hard-core sailing fan or a wide-eyed newbie, the Extreme Sailing Series has something for everyone. Represent the Fleet Science Center and BE WiSE at the Education Zone where we will have a booth doing hands-on interactive demonstrations with booth visitors. As part of the US Sailing Education Zone, there will be interactive, STEM based displays from US Sailing. Participants will have 2 hour shifts facilitating an interactive demo and talking about the BE WiSE program. They will also be able to experience the event.

October 27, 2018: Pollution & Marine Mammals
Do you know what oil exposure does to dolphins? What would you do if an oil spill happened on your beach?! Join the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) and learn about the extraordinary steps being taken to assess wild dolphin populations affected by oil exposure. NMMF Scientists have been doing research in the Gulf of Mexico to learn about the ongoing effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on cetaceans including reproductive failure, lung disease, and other infections. Meet these fantastic female marine biologists and learn about what it takes to be a leader as a woman in the field of science.

November 3, 2018: Women Working Wonders with Water
BE WiSE explores the Exoplanets, and beyond! In this session hosted in collaboration with the Fleet Science Center and Boyce Astro, BE WiSE members will be learning about astronomy with interactive activities. Participants in this workshop will receive an introduction to an online exoplanet self-guided program that enables them to do their own limited observations. They will also get to meet female astronomers and learn more about their trajectories in their careers.

November 16, 2018: Star Party with the San Diego Astronomical Association
BE WiSE and their families are invited to participate in a fun night of starry science. Hosted by the San Diego Astronomical Association participants for this star viewing party will have the opportunity to use high powered telescope to identify starts in the night's sky. See the moon’s craters and Mars at this awesome star gazing party!

December 1, 2019: The Science of Framing
Are you curious about how science is used in framing? Join us for this workshop that explores the math, engineering, and technology behind framing. We'll be meeting at the Frame Station where they will walk us through the process of framing and talk to us about the science that goes on behind the scenes at the framing shop. Participants will also learn about the challenges and rewards of owning and operating a small business.

December 8, 2018: The Colorful World of Chemical Biology
Chemical Biology is a relatively new scientific discipline that involves using the principles of chemistry to manipulate and/or study biological systems. Join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCSD for this stimulating workshop that will expose BE WiSE members to this new and exciting field of science! Participants will interact with several women faculty members and PhD students and tour their lab spaces that have been newly renovated to support Chemical Biology research. The workshop will end with an interactive demonstration with bacterial cells that have been engineered by chemical biologists to glow different colors under black light.

December 15, 2019: Scientific Research at the Scripps Research Institute
Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to tour the Scripps Research Institute and experience firsthand cutting-edge research. These participants will engage in interactive science demonstrations, led by a mixture of female postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. They will have the opportunity to hear about research from these researchers and ask questions regarding pursuing science as a career.

January 5, 2019: Get Linked In with Microsoft
Join the wonderful staff at Microsoft for a morning of networking coaching and careers in computers! Participants in this workshop will learn how to create a compelling profile of your capabilities and accomplishments and how to grow your professional network. They will also learn about careers at Microsoft and get a tour of the store. Our hosts will provide lunch as well as gaming during lunch also, don't miss it!

January 17, 2019: High Tech Fair, Family Night
The High Tech Fair is an event for students in grades 7-12 to learn about the opportunities available to them as they pursue a career within a scientific field. The science that students learn in the classroom is complemented with real-life applications through interactive experiences provided by participating local STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-related industries. These businesses are ready to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers. Over 30 booths with exhibitor representatives and hands-on activities will be available for students to explore.

January 26, 2019: Design Thinking & Cyber with Booz Allen Hamilton
Join us for this intriguing workshop on design thinking and cyber bullying! Female leaders from Booz Allen will share their Cyber and Engineering focused career experiences with selected participants, exposing them to a range of possibilities for a future in STEM. Participants will also compete in a case study challenge, using “Design Thinking” frameworks to problem solve an issue of social good, in this case: Cyber-bullying. Through the full lifecycle of problem solving, from deconstructing a challenge to presenting each solution to a panel of judges, participants will have the opportunity to work in teams, be exposed to senior leaders, and most importantly, have fun! Lunch & refreshments will be provided.

February 16, 2019: Hide and Go Seagrass
Join the San Diego State University (SDSU) Coastal Marine Science team for an exploration of what makes a healthy marine ecosystem! Participants in this workshop will learn about seagrass habitat and why they are important, what makes seagrass beds a healthy habitat, and how different amounts of habitat structure can affect the animals that live in seagrass. They will also learn about careers in marine conservation and meet female marine researchers and learn more about their educational paths to get to where they are.

February 23, 2019: Fiscally Smart with Wells Fargo
We can agree that money is fun to get and spend, but what is fiscal literacy and what role can it play in your life? Attend this workshop to learn how to start saving and how to boost your earning power. Participants will also learn about topics such as school loans, balancing a budget, building credit, and career paths in the banking industry. This is an informative workshop you won't want to miss!

March 8, 2019: International Women’s Day Event
Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, engineering, and girl power as we celebrate women and the amazing things they do through engineering! We will have hands-on activities for the whole family showcasing engineering concepts and careers in engineering. We will have a screening of the award winning film Dream Big and a Q&A panel afterwards. There will be refreshments provided.

March 16, 2019: Pfenex- From Genes to Vaccines
Discover what the components of a vaccine are and learn, through hands-on activities, about all the steps involved from designing and cloning DNA coding for specific proteins, to fermenting and purifying large amounts of protein that will be used to make a vaccine. Participants will meet female scientists and learn about their trajectories in science.

April 13, 2019: Mouse Dissection & Histology
Join the UCSD Biomedical Sciences department to discover how physiological, histological, and morphological tests and techniques are applied when discovering new therapeutics. In a series of hands-on workshop rotations, students will learn about what it's like to perform research in an academic setting. After the hands on- portion participants will also have time to talk one-on-one with scientists at lunch to learn about their path and their personal trajectory careers in science.

April 19, 2019: BE WiSE Overnight at Living Coast Discovery Center
Welcoming the incoming cohort of the BE WiSE program this is the first overnight of the year! Participants in this workshop will hear a keynote speech by a special guest, participate in hands-on activities, meet other likeminded girls and chat with female scientists over dinner, and have a blast at the sleepover with a movie and snacks.

April 20, 2019: WILDCOAST Shoreline Laboratory
Join WILDCOAST for a half day of immersive activities in the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve in La Jolla, CA. Students will participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, gaining the opportunity to see research in action, explore careers in marine science, and speak with researchers. Students will then head to the beach and become scientists themselves, collecting valuable data for the statewide Marine Protected Area Watch (mpawatch.org) community science program while exploring the Matlahuayl marine protected area.

April 26, 2019: BE WiSE Overnight at UCSD School of Engineering
Welcoming the incoming cohort of the BE WiSE program this is the second overnight of the year! Participants in this workshop will hear a keynote speech by a special guest, participate in hands-on activities, meet other likeminded girls and chat with female scientists over dinner, and have a blast at the sleepover with a movie and snacks.

April 27, 2019: Forensics with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office
In this introduction to the San Diego Sheriff's Crime Lab participants will spend the afternoon at the new San Diego Sheriff's Regional Crime Laboratory learning how the crime lab helps law enforcement solve crimes. There will be a presentation of the disciplines in the crime lab including crime scene investigation, questioned documents, trace analysis, blood alcohol, firearms, narcotics, and fingerprints. BE WiSE members will then tour the crime laboratory and learn more about DNA through actual testing. Use new skills to help solve a crime!

May 3, 2019: BE WiSE Overnight at the San Diego Zoos Institute for Conservation Research
Welcoming the incoming cohort of the BE WiSE program this is the third and final overnight of the year! Participants in this workshop will hear a keynote speech by a special guest, participate in hands-on activities, meet other likeminded girls and chat with female scientists over dinner, and have a blast at the sleepover with a movie and snacks.